Knoester Claims Oceania Title

Olympic hopeful Calvin Knoester has performed impressively to win the 73kg class at the recent Oceania Judo Union tournament in Perth.

With Olympic qualification points on offer, Knoester reeled off four victories against international competitors to take the title at the WA State Netball Centre.

He opened his tournament with victory over American Caleb Wesley before earning another win by ippon over compatriot Sam King.

The Ocean Reef resident qualified for the final by beating Philippine Keisei Nakkano and claimed the 73kg title after defeating Claudio Nunes Dos Santos of Luxembourg in the medal round.

The Oceania title adds to a busy 2018 season that also saw Knoester compete at this year’s world championships in Azerbaijan.

He won the Australian national title in June and has already headed for Japan for further training and competition.

Judo – which originated in Japan in the late 19th century – was first hosted as an Olympic discipline at the Tokyo Games in 1964. It was dropped four years later at Mexico City but has featured at every Olympics since.

In a nice slice of history repeating, the Judo in Tokyo 2020, will be held at the same competition venue – Nippon Budokan – as the inaugural Games in Tokyo. It is expected to be one of the most keenly attended events of the Games.